Hot Boats & Watercraft How-Tos
How To: Power wash your boat
This video is led by Eddie from Long Island Boaters Club. As the boating season ends, Eddie explains, it is very important to clean and prepare your boat for storage for the winter. An important part of this process is to power wash the algae growth and barnacle debris that can cover the hull very quickly. After taking the boat out of the water and placing on blocks, he lets it sit for one day. Then using a pressure washer, he removes the algae growth. A scraper is used to remove the actual b...
How To: Tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot
This video tutorial is in the Outdoor Recreation category which will show you how to tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot. Weld less rings are used as connection points for a variety of purposes. However, riggers quite often make tying a ring unnecessarily complicated. All that is required is a basic knot and a few hitches. For this you will need to tie the running overhand knot. Take a rope, bend it in half and tie it to a suspension point. Now pass both ends of the rope through the r...
How To: Tie the Handcuff knot
Learn how to tie a Handcuff Knot. This is a handy knot for those times when an emergency set of handcuffs are needed :) Firefighters also use this knot, coupled with a half hitch over each loop, as a man harness. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Install a switch panel on a boat
When you have so much technology on one small boat, things are bound to get confusing. That's why having a big enough switch panel is a great way to keep track of all the different switches that your boat has. In this tutorial, you'll find out the steps needed to insatll a switch panel on a boat. Depending on how much experience you have with using tools, this video may be a tad bit difficult. So sit back and pay attention. Good luck!
How To: Repair fiberglass
How to repair fiberglass on a boat is demonstrated in this series. Part 1 of 2 - How to Repair fiberglass.
How To: Use fiberglass, kevlar and carbon to repair boats.
Fiberglass, kevlar and carbon can all be used to repair boats this demonstration shows you how.
How To: Tie a Prusik knot to secure a loop to a tight line
The Prusik knot is a great versatile outdoor knot, boating knot, or paddling knot, and is used widely throughout each. Mountain climbing is a big user of this knot. You can use this knot to secure a loop to a tight line. Also great for hitching boats.
How To: Tie square lashing knots with animated knot tying help
Learn how to tie a knot, but not just any old knot... a square lashing knot. You'll never have any troubles again tying nautical square lashing knots, thanks to this Marinews knot tie animated tutorial. You can learn by simply watching the knot tying animation at a moderate speed, or if need be, click on "learn by steps" to get step-by-step rope knot instructions for square lashing knots. How to make a knot is not the hard part, choosing the right fishing knots or rope knot is.
How To: Tie a Turk's Head knot in a flat or matt format
Learn how to tie a Turk's Head Knot in a flat or matt format - A decorative knot that is tied flat and can, if desired, then be formed into the cylindrical form of the Turk's Head Knot. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Make a canopy for your boat
You can make your own canopy for your boat and save hundreds of dollars from the store bought ones. You’ll need 1 inch pvc pipe, some nuts and bolts and you‘re set. You’ll set you’re canopy off of some swivel brackets that secure on the pvc pipe with 2 inch screws. This video will show you how to rig everything and you’ll be sitting in the shade in no time.
How To: Tie the slipped buntline knot for boating
Learn how to do this quick release version of the slipped buntline boating knot. It allows the loop to be released with a tug of the tag end. This instructional diagram is helpful for boaters interested in mastering the slipped bluntline knot. Tie the slipped buntline knot for boating.
How To: Tie the basic knot design of a cargo net
In this video, we learn how to tie the basic knot design of a cargo net. First, tie a double overhand knot on a rope bent into two. After this, make cow hitching on the first loop that you created. Next, make a second double overhand knot followed by cow hitching the second loop. After you do this, you will be able to size up for use! To make this, you must have some prior knowledge of how to tie different knots. If you don't, you won't know how to make the shapes. Use a picture as a referenc...
How To: Properly tie and anchor your boat
This video is some real basic stuff about boat tying and anchoring. Watch to see the right way to tie and anchor your boat.
How To: Tie a Heaving Line knot / Franciscan Monks' knot
Learn how to tie a Heaving Line or Franciscan Monk's Knot - a practical and decorative knot used to add weight to the end of a heaving line, or to finish a Monk's belt rope ends. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie a Tom Fool's Knot
Learn how to tie a Tom Fool's knot - this knot is a basis for a number of decorative and functional knots. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Draw Hitch or Thief Hitch
Learn how to tie a Draw or Thief Hitch - a means of securing a rope with two standing ends - one end is load bearing, and the other can be pulled to release the knot. I used this knot extensively for raising the mast on my first trailor-sailor - Tie this above the spreaders, stand the mast up, then pull on the release line to untie it without having to climb aloft. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Japanese knot or Square knot
Learn how to tie a Japanese Knot or Square Knot - a decorative knot that forms a square shape. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Fix boat transoms with epoxy
Fix the transom of a wood rotten boat with epoxy.
How To: Tie an Anchor Hitch / Bucket Hitch knot
Learn how to tie an Anchor Hitch (also known as a Bucket Hitch) - A very secure means of attaching a rope to an anchor or any other object that you can't afford to loose (like a bucket down a well, I suppose - thus the alternate name). I actually do use this hitch for temporary anchor attachment (preferring to permanently splice instead) as well as for my bucket lanyards when washing down my boat's deck.
How To: Tie a Shamrock knot / True Lover's knot
This shows you how to tie a Shamrock Knot / True Lover's Knot - A decorative knot, built from two Thumb Knots, that forms the shape of a shamrock. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie the monkey's fist boating knot
There are often requests for the Monkey’s Fist (or Paw) Knot so here it is! Watch this instructional knot tying video to learn how to tie your own perfect monkey's fist boating knot. The key to tying the monkey's fist knot successfully is to have a small ball or core to insert into the knot before tightening it up. The core must match the size of the knot - which is dependent on the size of the rope being used - for the knot to finish right. Some trial and error is to be expected when first t...
How To: Tie the quick release knot
Here is a good knot. Do you know it? It's the quick release knot. Check out this instructional knot tying video that demonstrates how to tie the Quick Release knot. Just follow the simple instructions outlined in this boating tutorial and learn how to tie a Quick Release knot. Knot tying is a breeze with this video. Start practicing and reel in the big fish!
How To: Remove a boat from the water for transport & storage
Eddie shows us how to remove a boat from the water in this video tutorial. First, take down the canvases and wrap them up. Now, put the antennas down and drive the boat to the loading dock. Next you will need a large truck that has a hitch and trailer attached to it, and secure everything so the boat stays on and doesn't come off of the trailer. Take the drain plug out of the boat before you transport it, to make it lighter. Transport the boat to your house, and place bricks over the front so...
How To: Tie a Butterfly knot to create loops in rope midpoints
This Butterfly knot will accommodate a load in any direction, and is used mostly in outdoor and boating situations, but also could be used as a paddling knot. It's used for securing a loop or many loops in the middle of a rope. Great for mountain climbing and canoeing.
How To: Tie a Half-Hitch knot or Double Half-Hitch knot
Half-hitches are great knots, but only when use in combination with other knots. By itself, a half-hitch is unsafe and unreliable, but when joined with other knots, can be quite the opposite. Tying two half hitch knots together is great for attaching a rope or line to any object. The half hitch and double half hitch are used throughout specialities, most notably as a boating knot, outdoor knot, and paddling knot.
How To: Patch a hole in a fiberglass hole
LowkeeLT demonstrates how to patch a hole in a fiberglass boat hull. First, grind around the edge of the hole to make it smooth. Make an angle that goes towards the hull so that the resin won't get caught and create air pockets. Attach kitchen wax paper to the boat as a non-stick material for the poly resin to set against. Then, put down a flexible cutting board by duct taping the two layers on the outside of the hull and pulling it taut. Attach three layers of fiberglass strips with resin to...
How To: Tie the Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot
Learn how to tie a Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot - used as an emergency harness for hoisting a person. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie the constrictor knot for boating
Watch this instructional video to learn how to tie the constrictor boating knot. This is a useful boating knot to tie up loose materials or the ends of bags. Simple to tie, it grips itself and will not work loose. The constrictor knot is also known as the miller's knot or the bag knot. Tie the constrictor knot for boating.
How To: Clean a boat with a pressure washer
Boats look great in the water, but take them out and you’ll often find build-ups of algae and other invasive aquatic species. A pressure washer can help keep your boat looking its best – in and out of the water. Watch this how-to video to learn how to clean your boat with a pressure washer. Clean a boat with a pressure washer.
How To: Fix boat stringer systems with epoxy
Fix your stringer system in your boat with epoxy.
How To: Properly tie a strong nonbinding bowline knot
If you need a sturdy, super strong knot, but you want be able to reuse the rope, then the bowline knot is what you want. The bowline knot is one of the strongest knots available. It's a nonbinding knot which makes a nonslipping and nonjamming loop at the end of the rope. This is perfect for heavy equipment, and great for boats and other watercraft vehicles. The bowline can take as much weight as the rope can handle, and it can be untied!
How To: Set up the mast on the Open 570 single-handedly
In this video, we learn how to set up the mast on the Open 570 single-handedly. First, look to see where the mast is going to fit on the boat. Pick the mast up in the middle so it balances out on each side, it's very long. Turn the mast around and place the edge facing the foyer. Put the base of the mast into the mast step, then let it rest on a step ladder. From here, get into the boat and add the safety pin into the base of the mast to keep it locked. Now take the mast and push it up into t...
How To: TIe a decorative noose
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie a decorative noose. First, form a loop and then and wrap the end around the loop thirteen times. Next, take the loose end and stick it into the coils you just made. Use a pencil and long scissors to help you do this. After you are done with this, tie a knot at the end and pull so the loop is tight. You can also clip off the loose end and pull the loop to make it larger if you prefer. When finished, use this as you wish but do not use it for violent activi...
How To: Install a CE Smith t-top electronics box on your boat
When out on the ocean, it's always a smart move to make sure your electronics are close by and easily accessible. The best way to do so is by having it located at the t-top tower of your boat. So this tutorial will show you how to install a CE Smith electronics box on the t-top of your boat. It's easy to do and will have your equipment ready in no time. Enjoy!
How To: Tie a Tarbuck knot for attaching a line to a post
Learn how to tie a Tarbuck Knot - a handy hitch for attaching a line to a ring, post, or other fixed object. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.
How To: Tie an Artillery Hitch (Loop) knot
Learn how to tie an Artillery Hitch or loop - A secure way of forming a loop in the standing part of a rope so that the loop lies perpendicular to the line. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.
How To: Tie a Blood Knot
Learn how to tie a Blood Knot - Used in sailing as a somewhat decorative stopper knot or on the business end of a Cat 'O Nine Tails (hence the Blood Knot's name). This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a Thief Knot
This video shows you how to tie a Thief Knot. This knot looks a Reef Knot to the casual observer and so can be used to determine if a thief is tampering with your belongings bag - secure it with a Thief Knot, and if you find it re-tied with a Reef Knot, you know someone has been messing with your stuff. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.
How To: Tie a cleat hitch
Need help with your knots? Ann and Matt from BoatUS teach new boaters how to tie a cleat hitch at the dock. Know your knots and practice tying a cleat hitch knot by watching this instructional knot tying video. Improve your skills and tie knots like a pro.
How To: Remove old boat lettering from your boat
It's easy to remove the old lettering from your boat before applying your new boat graphics. Check out this instructional boating video to learn how to do just that. Heat them with a hair dryer and slowly peel them off. When you have all of them removed, scrape off any remaining glue residue and clean the surface thoroughly using ordinary glass cleaner. Your new boat lettering is ready to be applied.
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